Cell Structure and Function
Cells
• Smallest living unit
• Most are microscopic
Discovery of Cells
• Robert Hooke (mid-1600s)
– Observed sliver of cork
– Saw “row of empty boxes”
– Coined the term cell
Cell theory
• (1839)Theodor Schwann & Matthias Schleiden
“ all living things are made of cells”
• (50 yrs. later) Rudolf Virchow
“all cells come from cells”
Principles of Cell Theory
• All living things are made of cells
• Smallest living unit of structure and
function of all organisms is the cell
• All cells arise from preexisting cells
(this principle discarded the idea of
spontaneous generation)
Characteristics of All Cells
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A surrounding membrane
Protoplasm – cell contents in thick fluid
Organelles – structures for cell function
Control center with DNA
Cell Types
• Prokaryotic
• Eukaryotic
Prokaryotic Cells
• First cell type on earth
• Cell type of Bacteria and Archaea
Prokaryotic Cells
• No membrane bound nucleus
• Nucleoid = region of DNA concentration
• Organelles not bound by membranes
Eukaryotic Cells
• Nucleus bound by membrane
• Include fungi, protists, plant,
and animal cells
• Possess many organelles
Protozoan
Representative Animal Cell
Representative Plant Cell
Organelles
• Cellular machinery
• Two general kinds
– Derived from membranes
– Bacteria-like organelles
Cell Membrane
• Contains cell contents
• Double layer of phospholipids & proteins
Cell Walls
• Found in plants, fungi, & many protists
• Surrounds plasma membrane
Cell Wall Differences
• Plants – mostly cellulose
• Fungi – contain chitin
Cytoplasm
• Viscous fluid containing organelles
• components of cytoplasm
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Interconnected filaments & fibers
Fluid = cytosol
Organelles (not nucleus)
storage substances
Nucleus
• Control center of cell
• Double membrane
• Contains
– Chromosomes
– Nucleolus
DNA
• Hereditary material
• Chromosomes
– DNA
– Protiens
– Form for cell division
• Chromatin
Golgi Apparatus
• Involved in synthesis of plant cell wall
• Packaging & shipping station of cell
Vacuoles
• Membrane bound storage sacs
• More common in plants than animals
• Contents
– Water
– Food
– wastes
Mitochondria
• Have their own DNA
• Bound by double membrane
Mitochondria
• Break down fuel molecules (cellular respiration)
– Glucose
– Fatty acids
• Release energy
– ATP
Chloroplasts
• Derived form photosynthetic bacteria
• Solar energy capturing organelle
Photosynthesis
• Takes place in the chloroplast
• Makes cellular food – glucose